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LIBRARY -pF CQNG 6ESS. 

Chap Copyright No...^ 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




HOWARD H ALI^. 



l^^l— '7 3 3 5^ 



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Modern 
Venus 
and 
fldonis 



One summer's day a gentle maid, 
Wandering at w.ll 'neath sun and shade, 
Along a sylvan stream that strayed, 
With lazy pace, adown the glade, 
Had reached a pond where froglets played. 
She paused bes^ide a log decayed 
And watched the bull-frogs promenade. 
She marvelled : "They are not afr id ! 
" 'Tis very strange, one would think they'd 
"Leap affrighted and dismayed 
' Into the pond below the grade ! 
" Tell me, Friend Frogs, why look so staid ? 
" Come ope' your throats, here I've delayed 
" To hear your croaking serenade ! " 
Her sweet commands the frogs obej'ed, 
And lo ! the din their voices made 
Awoke a slumbering renegade : 

A handsome rogue 

From cap to brog' 

His dress the nattiest e'er in vogue. 

He chanced to lie 

Asleep hard by, 

Beneath the -un-red summer sky. 

Lifting his head 

From the grassy bed, 

He spied a path, which, winding, led 

To where the frogs. 

In Nature's togs, 

Were playing lug among the bogs. 

No V list to this : 

The gentle Miss 

Had not been spied by eyes of his ; 

The frogs alone, 

Perchance their tone. 

Like magnets, dr.w him to their zone, 

Through foliage green. 

Whose leafy screen 

Shaded this prisli e pathwaj', e'en 
To where some vines 

An oak entwines 

And weds it to a group of pines ; 

Where one can see 

Quite easily 

The pond, the brook, the fallen tree, 

Or 1 g decayed, 

Whe^eou the maid 

Sat dreaming, while the froglets pla) ed. 

Parting tlie leaves. 

The \ outh perc ives — 

The croaking imps, whose song relieves 

The .solitude ; 

They seemed imbued 

With anytliing but quietude 1 

Again he raided 

His ey s, and gazed. 

And lo ! beheld — entranced— amazed — 

The m lid ! Surprise 

9U^je J4j \^<f eye«, 



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His feelings — well, we can surmise 

With what degree 

Of pleasure, he 

Beheld such fair Virginity.-- 

So gracefully 

The maiden lay 

He sighed : " Can she be mortal clay, 

" Or some fair spright 

" Who, when the night 

" Her curtains draw, will tfike her flight ? 

" Oh beauty rare ! 

" A face more fair, 

" C)r eyes— a more bewitching pair — 

" Ne'er maiden bore 

' ' On earth before ! 

" Diana, on her native shore, 

'■ With all her nude, 

" Voluptuous brood, 

" Possess a beauty plain and rude 

" Compared to her's ! 

" But soft ! She stirs!" 

Then quick to him the thought occurs 

That should she hear 

Him skulking near 

She'd dash away like frightened deer ; 

So, with cautious tread 

And cogent dread, 

He drew so near, he caught the thread 

Of her discourse, 

And be, of course. 

Transfixed by someTiivsterious force 

Her tale o'erheard ; 

And every word 

His soul with deepest passion stirred : 

With hope infused 

His heart enthused ; 

And Conscience slept — while thus she mused : 

" Oh Muse awake ! and swiftly float 
"O'er Love's pure lakelp Eros' boat. 
' ' Its surface scan from shm-e to shore 
'■ For one true man I may adore 
" Whose heart is free and lion strong ; 
" Who'd fight with thee for Right, tho' Wrong 
" Should 'pear to him in semblance of 
" A cherubim of hallowed love ; 
" Though angels' smiles should 'lume her face, 
" And, all the wiles of Circe's race 
"Were her's to wield, t ) tempt his soul 
" From Virtue's field, to Passion's goal ; 
" He would, despite her subtle charms, 
" With fearless might burst from her arms ; 
" And, should she cling to him and pray, 
" He'd kill and fling her corpse away ; 
" And, standing free, with proud disdain, 
" Command of thee : ' Remove the slain ! ' 
' Thus should Wrong die— that Right may live, 
" To none would I my love e'er give 
" That would not fight thus fearlessly 



" 'Gainst Passion's might and sorcery 1 
•• So turn thy hehii that should there he, 
" Within thy reahn, a man thus free ; 
" Whose lips ne'er felt Love's honied kiss ; 
" Whose soul ne'er dealt in Passion's bliss ; 

• Howe'er remote his abode may be. 
" Propell thy boat there spee.iily. 

" Oh spealc to him — nor let thy voice 
' Be I arsh or dim — bid him rejoice. 

• To him declare that thou hast seen 
" A maiden fair — a radiant qneen ! 

" Let Love conduce to guide thy tongue 

■' That 'iwill produce desire among 

■• His guarded thoughts, to taste the wine - 

' The thrilling draughts from Cupid's vine. 

" Then lend thy oar to him and say : 

" ' Brave \outh, before the dying day 

" ' Is marked by yon 

■' ' Fast setting sun. 

" ' Thou must have seen this waiting one.' " 

Then, pensively 
.•Vnd dreamily, 
She sank into a reverie. 
Unconscious of 
The youth above, 

She sweetly sighed : "Oh what is love .' " 
He, hearing this, 
Thought 'twan't amiss 
To make reply : " Sweet maid 'tis bliss ! 
" 'Tis ecstacy 
" Beyond degree ; 

" 'Ti-s what I feel, sweet maid, for thee I 
" Nay — do not start 
" Like frightened hart ! 
■ Fair one, ( would to thee impart 
■' .\ story, sweet, 
" Of love— replete 
" With truth — before you make retreat." 

While fear and pride 

To truth allied 

Beamed in her face, the girl replied : 

"I fear, kind sir. 

" I must demur. 

■' And leave thee, le.st the blighting blur 

" Of Eve's dread shame 

' ' Be on my name 

" Despoiling Virtue's honored fame " 

"Oh stay," he cries, 

" I do agnize 

" Thou'rt right— but conn , we'll comproinise. 

" I mean thee well, 

■ ' My gentle belle, 

" And beg that then wilt hear me tell 

" My love, for we 

" Love's mystery 

" Can solve, if only we agree ' 

' Didst thou not send 



" Thiue aged friend, 

"Thy muse, to searcli, from end lo end, 

"Through Love's domain ? 

" Can'st thou complain, 

" When he has sent thee one, who, fdin 

■ Would call thee mate ? 
" Reciprocate I 

" Give love for love ; why hesitatt- :^ 
" The sunbeams iiss the blushing ro^e 
" At day's inception and its close ; 
'■ Waves iiss the shore ; the gentle breeze 
■' Love words whisper to the trees ; 
" 'Tis earth's •,varm pressure bursts the seeds 
" Of plant and flower. The River's reeds 
" Bend down the stream to catch the last 
" Love message of the waves as they flow jiasl ; 
■' The clinging tendrils of the vine 
" Doth teach thee how thou should.st ent%viiie 
"Thy unlearned arms ; the snow-drifts melt 
" When first the Spring's caress is felt : 
"The w-eeping willow bows its head, 
" Not in tears, but joy instead — 
'■ The joy that prompts a maiden's blush, 
" That Ciuses all her blood to rush 

" Into her face, the while she tries 
■' To hide its hue by feigned sighs ; 
" All things in nature teach you this ; 
■' Thou wert born fair maid to kiss, 
" To love — be loved — and caressed ; 

" To give that with which thou wouldst be blest 

'Twas thus he spent 

His argument, 

.And who can say, with what intent ! 

With drooping eyes. 

The maid, unwise, 

In accents, sweet and low, replies : 

' ' Thy gallantry 

" Impresses m.- 

"' With confidence and trust in ihec ! 

" Although, I feel 

" A strong appeal 

" From Conscience to check thy zeal. 

' ' Yet see — I stay ! 

•■ Although the day 

■' Into the past has fled away. 

•' I can't explain 

" Why I remain, 

" Or why 'twould fill my heart with pain 

' ' Were you to go ; 

" But, do you know, 

" I fear that Fate has willed it .-o. ' 

" Nay, do not fear 

"Remaining here; 

" Come, sit you down by me, my dear, 

"I'll tell you of 

"My tale of love; 

" That famed, cooing turtle-ilove, 



" of Cupid's dart, 
" And wondrous art, 
" And all Love's mysteries impart; 
"The which, to hear, 
" Wiil banish fear, 
" And all ofj'our misgivings, lirear. 
"Behold!" Quoth he. 
" U'er yonder lea 

" The golden sun doth smile on thee; 
" And, through these bars, 
■'The bright-eyed stars, 
" Anon, will check this bank with scars 
" Of silvery light, 
" And put to flight 
' Thy foolish dread of somber night." 

Why should they stand 

Upon the strand 

With Cupid's couch so close at hand ? 

So, gazing at 

Ttie suu, the\- sat 

Upon the grass-grown emerald mat 

That lined the bank; 

The great orb sank 

Into the ocean's spacious tank; 

The moon, the while. 

With placid smile, 

Rose, round and red, in radiant style, 

And shed its bright 

Refulgent light 

Adown the shadowy paths of night. 

A gentle brt-eze. 

From saphire seas. 

Stole softly through the yielding trees ; 

Its breath, impent 

With sensuous scent, 

Thrilled them with Love's sweet sentiment. 

The frogs still croaked 

As if provoked ; 

The owl his woeful hoot invoked ; 

With sweet intent, 

Dame Nature lent 

Her fairest smile and blandishment. 

To charm the pair, 

Who, loitering there. 

Thought never was a iiight so fair ! 

The subtle spell 

Of Silence fell 

Upon the twain ! Love's dreams compel 

Mute lips, forsooth, 

When Life's dear youth 

First feels Desire's burning truth ! 

The eloquence 

Of love, intense, 

Steals o'er their passive continueiice '. 

The fierce desire 

Of Passion's fire, 

Impells this artful youth, to try her 

With one sweet kiss : 



oil joj' ! Oh bliss ; 

Oh cup of liquid hapiness ' 

From burning lips 

To finger tips 

Love's nectar sibilantly drips ' 

" Oh love," he cries 

With burning sighs — 

" I read life's meaning in thine eyes ! 

"Thy touch a thrill ! 

" Thy voice, a trill 

" Of thrush like melody ! A still 

" Sweet sense decrees 

" Our destinies. 

" Shall waft us o'er Hymenial Seas ! 

" I'll careful be, 

" My dear, of thee, 

" If thou wilt yield thy heart to nie. 

"In Love's retreats 

" We 11 laste the sweets 

"Transported there by Cnpiil's fleets." 

All mystified, 

The maiden sighed: 

" Oh would that I were now thy bride ! 

" For then I might 

" Thy love recjui'e 

" Fearless of dread Dishonor's blight." 

This thoughtless hint 

Struck Cupid's flint . 

And lo ! A flame that knew no stin1 

Cou svd through their veins. 

Swiftly it gains 

Complete control. lu Passion's chains, 

Encircling round 

The twain are bound. 

And thus, by Cupid's host, were found. 

The frogs relate, 

Wiih grinning pate, 

What happened there that evening laie. 

If you should s'.ray 
Some summer's day, 
Adown this vine embowered way, 
Just take a look 
For this pleasant nook ; 
You'll find it where a babling brook 
Leaps swiftly o'er, 
With rush and roar. 
Some jagged rocks : then— as before — 
Flows gently on 
Its course ; anon 
It pours itself into a ])un(i. 
I'm sure you'll trace. 
With ease, the place ; 
Follow your right hand, as you face 
The way the stream. 
With glint and gleam. 
Pursues its course ; if not a iirt..i:N 
^ipna'll iind the b<|iik. 



Whereon they sank, 

And Cupid's sweet elixir drank. 

If you should hear 

A croaking queer 

Of some beworted bull-frog near. 

Ask him to state, 

'Chance he'll relate, 

.•\nd thus my tale substantiate ! 

MORAL 

The Moral lies. 

You may surmise, 

Deep hidden from perverted eyes. 

But some may see 

That Love may be 

The harbor of a dangerous sea; 

Beyond whose bright 

Coruscant light 

Are troubled waves and starless night. 

The trusting maid, 

Who seeks the shade i 

Of Cupid's bowers, may evade < 

The artful knave. | 

And haply save 

Her innocence from Passion's wave, 

By truth thus taught: j 

Should she be sought, 

That Love is ever danger fraught. 

In olden times — 

So run the rhymes 

Of Avon's bard— in other clime 

Theri lived a youth , 

So fraught with truth j 

That not the sorcery, forsooth, ". 

Of Venus, fair < 

Beyond compare, j 

Could rouse Love's lion from its lair I | 

So coninent 1 

No blandishment 

Could lure him ! But how diflterent , 

The youth to-day ' 1 

No maiden may I 

Yield to Cup d's subtle sway | 

But that her fin e ] 

Atid honored name • 

Stands ever in the pale of Blame. j 

Since first the plan 

Of love began 

The maid has e'er been saughtbyman. ; 

And it will be ' ^ 

The desiiny j 

Of man to ever bend the knee ,j 

To Benuty's shrine ! \ 

And it is thine, -i 

Oh Woman fair, to sip the wine I 

Of Pleasure, sweet, , . j 

In Love's retreat, - - ■ 1 

Or pause where Love and Passion meet. | 

If dark Desire \ 

Should e'er conspire . 

To kindle Lust's Promethian fire. 1 

Avoid the strife, I 

Become a wife ! 

And thus fulfill the I^aw of Life ' ' 











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LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




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